Black Incarceration Rate vs. U.S. total black population

I am appealing to you because of your unique vantage point view of the American criminal justice system as a representative for many of the young Black men and women languishing in public and private prisons across this Nation.

Many young Black males and females live in fear of America's justice system. It is often seen as a predator, waiting for the opportunity to pounce upon them, dragging them into the abyss called the American Criminal Justice system for life. The over policing of black neighborhoods, inequity in sentencing, and over population of prisons with young African American males have all plagued our criminal justice system for quite some time.

African American mothers vocalize the fear of their sons "getting caught in the system", because of the severe limitations it can place upon their ability to live successful lives after even the most minor infraction. Too often those fears are realized.

The question often asked is why fear the justice system if you are not doing anything wrong?

More African Americans are arrested, prosecuted, and jailed than any other ethnic group in the United States. According to the United Department of Justice, in the year 2000 black people made up 13% of the United States population, however black people made up 44% of the United States Prison population. While this may sound surprising to some it is widely known in black communities.

In the year 2006 there were 4,789 black males incarcerated for every 100,000 black males in the United States in comparison to South Africa’s apartheid 1993 levels at 873 black males incarcerated for every 100,00 black males. Why should America not confront this predator? We have all known someone to receive heavy prison sentences for a minor crime. Everyone knows of the sentencing disparities between minorities and whites. In Mississippi blacks make up 38% of the State’s population but in the State’s prisons blacks make up 71% of the prison population! In Delaware blacks made up 19% of the state’s population but in the State’s prisons blacks made up 63% of the prison population! Last but not least, in Maryland blacks made up 27% of the State’s population but in the State’s prison blacks made up 72%! Black males have a 32% chance of serving time in prison at some point in their lives; Hispanic males have a 17% chance; white males have a 6% chance. These are not theories. Sadly, they are our reality.

The Black Incarceration Rate Declining Political Action Committee or for short, the B.I.R.D PAC, was founded for the purpose of removing that monster from the closets of young African American males. The B.I.R.D PAC is a private organization established to support political candidates that support lowering black incarceration rates and oppose those who do not. In contrast larger lobbies and PACs like the insurance companies (who are currently opposing healthcare reform), Wall Street (recently received billion dollar bailouts), and corporations (get large contracts from the governments) all have a voice on capitol hill. Until now, the over policed African American neighborhood across this country, did not. The B.I.R.D. PAC is that voice.

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